Tag-fastener.



J. E. FITZGERALD.

T AG FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 14. 1916.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

Inventor Attormaysv w a r- \J'OHN FITZGERALD, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

TAG-FASTENER.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed luly 14:, 1916. Seria11t'o. 1 09,34=3.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. FITZGERALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and thoroughly efficient and practical fastening means easily applicable to a tag and bendable into engagement with a binding cord wrapped around the bundle or package to which the tag is applied, whereby the tag will be efi'ectively held in place, without danger of its being accidentally displaced or lost during transit.

With the foregoing andother objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. I The invention is illustrated in jthe accompanying drawing, wherein I Figure 1 is a pe s'gective vie illustrating a tag applied to; ackage or bundle with one of the faste e s unbent and the other bent into engagement with the binding cord.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental back view of the tag illustrating one of the fasteners.

Fig. 3 is a sectional'view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are back views of modified forms of fasteners.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of another variation.

Fig. 7 is a back view of a double fastener similar in its general construction with the fastener shown in said patent.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another form of the invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a pair of the fasteners is applied to the tag 1 adjacent the opposite ends thereof, but it is to be understood that in some cases a single fastener may-suffice, whereas in others more than two fasteners can be used if desired or necessary. The

tag 1 can be of paper, card board, or any other suitable material, and can be of any 1 suitable size or shape, since the present fasteners are applicable to various tags.

Each fastener consists solely of an elongated plate or short strip 2 of suitable sheet metal orother material which can be readily bent by hand, but which will not be liable to unbend accidentally. The central or body portion of the elongated plate 2 is provided with a pair of opposite elongated longitudinal lips or tabs 3 cut therefrom and pro-' viding an elongated or rectangular longitudinal opening therebetween centrally of the plate. Said lips 3 are disposed at opposite sides of said opening adjacent to and. parallel with the side edges of the plate. The lips or tabs 3 are engageable through the tag 1, the two fasteners being preferably disposed transversely upon the front or other surface of the tag 1, adjacent the Patented Aug. 21, 191?.

endsthereof. The lips 3 can be extended through openings 4: with which the tag is provided, or said tag can be provided with sllts for the passage of the lips, which ever is desired, and the lips after being engaged through the tag are bent back or reflexed away from one another toward the rear side of the fastener to overlap the rear face of the tag, and thus clamp the fastener firmly in place. The end portions of the plate 2 provide bendable ears 5 projecting in opposite directions and normally lying flat upon the tag. The fold lines of the ears 5 coincide with the ends of the opening of the plate,

it being noted that the weakest portions of the plate lie on the transverse lines of the ends .of said opening. The body portion of the plate between the ends of the opening is reinforced due to the bending back of the lips 3, said lips providing doubled portions which are relatively stifi', so that no scores need be made in the metal to facilitate the bending of the ears. When the ears are bent back toward the front side of the plate, the ears will naturally bend on the fold lines which coincide with the ends of the opening of the plate. Therefore, it will be evident that the plate 2 can be readily stamped from sheet metal, and applied to the tags by simply clenching the plate to the tags by means of the lips 3 which are engaged through and behind the tag.

The tag 1 can be readily placed against the package or bundle 6 and held thereagainst after the binding cord 7 is passed around the package and tied. The tag is so .arranged that the binding cord extends lonto thus hold the fastener in place during the handling and transportation of the package or bundle.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the tabs 3 are arranged at the ends of the central opening of the plate 2 and are adapted to engage through the tag and to be bent back away from one another toward the ears 5*. This will also serve to confine the bending of the plate on the transverse fold lines coinciding with the ends of the openmg.

The tabs or lips 3 of the plate 2 shown in Fig. '5 are arranged the same as the lips or tabs 3, but are shorter in length than the opening, but can be of greater dimensions from their basal to their free edges. The tabs 3 are located adjacent the opposite ends of the opening and are diagonally opposite one another.

The fastener illustrated in Fig. 6 does not have the tabs or clenching-means struck from the body portion thereof, but the lips or tabs 3 pro ect from the side edges of the central or body portion of the plate 2, while the bendable ears 5 are arranged at right angles with the tabs 3. This fastener is of cruciform shape, and the tabs 3 can be passed through slits in the tag so as to project in opposite directions and overlap the rear face of the tag. These tabs 3 also serve to cause the ears 5 to bend on transverse lines which practically coincide with the ends of the tabs 3.

A double fastener is shown in Fig. 7 the two transverse plates or fasteners 2 being connected by a longitudinal strip 8 havcopies of this patent may be obtained for ing its terminals integral with the central or body portions of the plates 2. The plates 2 are the same as those illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or the plates shown in Figs. 4: and 5 can be used.

As shown in Fig. 8, the fastener has an annular series of spurs 3 struck therefrom to be clenched through the tag, and there being a circular eyelet opening instead of the rectangular one.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A tag fastener adapted to rest flatly against one side of a tag and having oppositely projecting ears adapted to be bent back to embrace a binding cord, and means struck from between said ears to engage through the tag.

2. A tag fastener embodying a plate adapted to rest flatly against one side of a tagand whose end portions provide cars which are adapted to be bent back into overlapping relation to embrace a binding cord, the central portion of the plate having a plurality of tabs struck therefrom between said ears to engage through and overlap the opposite side of the tag.

3. A tag fastener'embodying an elongated plate adapted to rest flatly against one side of a tag, the central portion of the plate being provided with tabs struck therefrom between said ears to provide an opening, said tabs being engageable through the tag to overlap the opposite side thereof, and the end portions of the plate providingears adapted to be bent back into overlapping relation to embrace a binding cord.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. JOHN E. FITZGERALD Witnesses:

THOMAS H. BILODEAU, MARY J. 'AHERN.

five centa'eaoh, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

